The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-08-17
A MODEL MILLIONAIRE.
The Story of an Old Beggar'e
Wedding Present.

unless one Is wealthy there IS nc
good in being charming fellow.
Romance is the privilege of the rich,
not the profession of the unemployed.
The poor should be practical and
prosalc. 1t is better to have a per-
manent income than.to be fascinating.
These are the great truths of modern
life which Hughie Erskine never
realized. Poor Hughle! Intellectual
ly we must admit, he was not Of much
Importance He never said either q
brilliant or an ill-natured thing in his
life. But then he was wonderfully
good-looking, with his crisp brown
hair, his clear-cut profile, and his gray
eyes. He was as popular with men as
he was with women, and he had every
accomplishment except that of making
money. His father had bequeathed
him his cavalry sword and "History
of the Peninsular war; in fifteen
volumes. Hughie hung the first over
his looking-glass, put the second on a
shelf between "Ruff's Guide and
"Baily's Magazine" and lived on
two hundred a year that an
old aunt allowed him. He had tried
every thing. He had gone on the
Stock Exchange for six months; but
what was butterfly to do among bulls
and bears? He had been q tea mer-
chant for little longer. but had soon
tired of Pekoe and Souchong. Then
he had tried selling dry sherry. That
did not answer. Ultimately he be-
came nothing, delightful, Intellectual
young man, with perfect profile and
no profession.
To make matters worse, he was in
love. The girl he loved was Laura
Merton, the daughter of retired
Colonel who had lost his temper and
his digestion in India, and had never
found either of them again. Laura
adored him, and he was ready to kiss
her shoestrings. They were the hand
soonest couple in London, and had not
a penny-piece among them. The
Colonel was very fond of Hughie, but
would not hear of any engagement.
Come to me, my boy, when you
have got fl0,0 of your own, and we
will see about it." he used to say; and
Hughie looked very glum on those
days, and had to 60 to Laura for con-
ISOLATION.
One morning, as he was on his way
to Holland Park. where the Mertons
lived, he dropped in to see great
friend of his, Alan Trevor. Trevor was
apainter. Indeed, few people escape
that nowadays. But he was also an
artist and artists are rather rare Per-
sonally. he was strange, rough fell
low, with freckled face and red hair.
However, when he took up the brush
he was real master, and his pictures
We're eagerly sought after. He had
been very much attracted by Hughie,
at first, 1t must be acknowledged, en-
tirely on account of his good looks.
lhe only people painter should
Know he used to say. "are people
who are bete and beautiful. people who
are an artistic pleasure to look at and
an intellectual repose to talk to. Dan
dies and darlings rule the world!'
However, after he got to know Hughie
better, he liked him quite as much for
his bright. buoyant spirits and his
generous, reckless nature, and had
given him the permanent entree to his
studio.
When Hughie came in he found
Trevor putting the finishing touches to
awonderful life-size picture of beg
gar man. The beggar himself was
standing on raised platform in a
corner of the studio. He was wizened
OLD man, with a face like wrinkled
parchment and most piteous ex-
preston. Over his shoulders was flung
coarse brown cloak. all tears and tat
'ers; his thick boots were patched and
COOLED, and with one hand he leaned
GU a rough stick. while with the other
ne held out his battered hat for aims.
What an amazing model" whis-
Perea Hughie, as he shook hands with |
his friend.
An amazing model?" shouted Ire
sof at the top of his voice; 81 should |
.hink so! Such beggars as he are not |
70 De met with every day. A trouua,He, |
Won cher; u living Velasquez! Nv
stars What an etching Rembrandt |
would have made Of himr'